European champions Paris Saint-Germain will look to begin the new season with another trophy when they face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening.
Luis Enrique’s PSG enter the match as reigning Champions League winners, while Unai Emery’s Aston Villa arrive after an impressive Europa League campaign that ended with victory in Istanbul.
The two sides already know each other well after their dramatic Champions League quarter-final last season, when PSG eventually advanced 5-4 on aggregate.
Now they meet again, this time with another European trophy on the line.
Quick Match Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Super Cup 2026 |
| Match | PSG vs Aston Villa |
| Venue | Salzburg |
| PSG Manager | Luis Enrique |
| Aston Villa Manager | Unai Emery |
| PSG Status | Champions League Winners |
| Aston Villa Status | Europa League Winners |
| Prediction | PSG 2-0 Aston Villa |
PSG Chasing Another European Trophy
PSG enter the Super Cup after completing an extraordinary European campaign.
After winning the Champions League last season, Luis Enrique’s side are now targeting another trophy to add to an increasingly impressive collection.
The French champions defeated Tottenham in last year’s Super Cup after a dramatic comeback and penalty shootout.
They then followed that success by winning another Champions League title, defeating Arsenal on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw.
Victory against Villa would give Luis Enrique his 13th trophy since arriving in Paris.
PSG’s Pre-Season Has Been Mixed
PSG have not enjoyed the smoothest preparation for the new campaign.
Without several players returning late from international duty, they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Mallorca before drawing 1-1 with Manchester United.
However, the lack of match sharpness should not be confused with a lack of quality.
PSG have also scored in 28 consecutive competitive matches since their defeat to Paris FC in January.
That attacking consistency could make the difference against Villa.
Aston Villa Looking to Continue Their European Rise
Aston Villa arrive after one of the most memorable seasons in the club’s recent history.
Unai Emery guided the Birmingham side to the Europa League title, with Villa producing an emphatic victory over Freiburg in the final.
It was the club’s first major trophy in three decades and another important milestone in Emery’s project.
However, Villa have already experienced significant changes this summer.
Villa’s Major Summer Changes
Two important players have already departed.
- Morgan Rogers.
- Youri Tielemans.
Villa have responded by bringing in several new faces, including:
- Alejandro Garnacho.
- João Gomes.
- Johan Manzambi.
The busy recruitment campaign means Emery is still trying to establish the ideal balance within his squad.
Aston Villa Pre-Season Form
Villa have played six friendlies during pre-season.
| Result | Record |
|---|---|
| Wins | 3 |
| Defeats | 3 |
Their latest match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich.
Competitive football begins against PSG before Villa travel to Brighton for their Premier League opener on August 23.
Team News: PSG
PSG have started welcoming their World Cup players back into the squad.
Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, and captain Marquinhos returned from their post-World Cup breaks and featured against Manchester United.
Luis Enrique could now welcome several more stars back into the starting XI.
Players who could feature include:
- Ousmane Dembélé.
- Désiré Doué.
- Fabián Ruiz.
- Achraf Hakimi.
- Lucas Hernández.
- Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Several players have also departed PSG this summer, including Gonçalo Ramos, Randal Kolo Muani, and Lee Kang-in.
Team News: Aston Villa
Villa have several fitness concerns ahead of the Super Cup.
Record signing Johan Manzambi is ruled out with a knee injury, while captain John McGinn is also a doubt after suffering an injury during pre-season.
Amadou Onana remains unavailable with an ACL injury.
There are also questions over the fitness of:
- Ezri Konsa.
- Ollie Watkins.
- Emiliano Martínez.
On the positive side, Boubacar Kamara has returned from a long-term injury, while Brian Madjo has impressed during pre-season.
Expected PSG Lineup
Formation: 4-3-3
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Matvey Safonov |
| RB | Achraf Hakimi |
| CB | Marquinhos |
| CB | Willian Pacho |
| LB | Nuno Mendes |
| CM | Warren Zaire-Emery |
| CM | Vitinha |
| CM | João Neves |
| RW | Ibrahim Mbaye |
| ST | Ousmane Dembélé |
| LW | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
Expected Aston Villa Lineup
Formation: 4-2-3-1
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Marco Bizot |
| RB | Matty Cash |
| CB | Victor Lindelöf |
| CB | Pau Torres |
| LB | Ian Maatsen |
| CM | João Gomes |
| CM | Boubacar Kamara |
| RW | Kadan Young/Hemmings |
| AM | Emiliano Buendía |
| LW | Alejandro Garnacho |
| ST | Ollie Watkins |
The Tactical Battle
The biggest tactical battle will come in midfield.
PSG are expected to dominate possession and attempt to move Villa’s defensive block from side to side before creating openings around the penalty area.
Villa, meanwhile, could rely on quick transitions and the pace of Garnacho to attack the spaces behind PSG’s full-backs.
The two teams already know each other’s strengths after last season’s Champions League quarter-final.
PSG won that tie 5-4 on aggregate, but Villa demonstrated that they can cause serious problems for the French champions.
Key Players to Watch
⭐ Ousmane Dembélé
The PSG forward remains one of the biggest attacking threats in European football. His movement between the lines could cause major problems for Villa’s defence.
⭐ Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The Georgian winger provides PSG with another dangerous one-on-one option and could be crucial against Villa’s full-backs.
⭐ Alejandro Garnacho
The new Villa signing brings pace, direct running, and creativity. His ability to attack PSG in transition could be one of Villa’s biggest weapons.
⭐ Ollie Watkins
If fit, Watkins will provide Villa with a reliable focal point capable of exploiting spaces behind PSG’s defensive line.
PSG vs Aston Villa Head-to-Head
Their previous Champions League meeting produced one of the most entertaining knockout ties of the 2025-26 campaign.
PSG eventually progressed 5-4 on aggregate, despite Villa winning the second leg.
That experience could give PSG an advantage heading into another high-pressure European fixture.
Our Prediction: PSG 2-0 Aston Villa
PSG look like the stronger side on paper.
The Champions League winners possess greater depth, more experience in major European finals, and an attacking unit capable of deciding the match with moments of individual brilliance.
Villa’s recent squad changes could also make it difficult for Emery to immediately reproduce the chemistry that helped them win the Europa League.
A competitive opening period is likely, but PSG should gradually take control.
Predicted Score: PSG 2-0 Aston Villa
Key Takeaways
- PSG face Aston Villa in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.
- PSG enter as Champions League winners.
- Villa won last season’s Europa League.
- The two clubs previously met in a dramatic Champions League quarter-final.
- PSG advanced 5-4 on aggregate.
- Both teams have several players returning from international duty.
- Villa have introduced several new signings during a busy summer.
- Prediction: PSG 2-0 Aston Villa.
Final Thoughts
The UEFA Super Cup provides the perfect opening act for another European season.
PSG arrive with the confidence of Champions League winners and a squad built to collect more silverware, while Aston Villa are attempting to carry their Europa League success into a new campaign despite significant changes to their squad.
The previous meeting between these clubs proved that Villa are capable of making life extremely difficult for PSG. But with Luis Enrique’s side possessing greater depth and European experience, the French champions should have enough quality to claim another trophy and continue their remarkable run under the Spanish coach.
